Re: Private investment in permanent way

[telljb@ozemail.com.au (Tell)]

"Barry Campbell" <campblbm@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>The Financial Review of Monday 22/7/98 had a report about forthcoming ads
>calling for private sector participation in rail upgrading projects. The
>next step, of course, is part or full privatisation of the track.
>What's the bet. Ultimately NR, V/line (trains and track), Westrail (also
>trains and track) and the track owner from Kal to BH & the Victorian border
>will be in private hands and after a few years mergers will result in one
>big interstate operator owning the lot. With luck we may get a semi national
>system yet.


Let us hope so Barry, it is the only alternative now.

There is no hope of a Federal Government department
ever "owning" all the national network.
The only danger I see is one BIG private owner with all
the track, still things really could not get worse than
they are at the moment.  If the majority of track were
owned by a private operator who has no direct interest
in owning and operating trains, it might just work
fine, because all train operators should get a fair go.


Cheers
----Terry Burton
Alice Springs NT